Breaking New Ground

The Mid-American Conference's new director of basketball operations, Dan Hughes, said at Thursday's media day that while referees around the country have been told to crack down on rough post play and contact away from the ball, they may also call technical fouls on coaches who are too tough on their players.

If an official considers a coach to be cursing at or overly berating a player, that coach can be whistled for a technical foul. It will be administered as usual, meaning the opposing team will be awarded two free throws and the ball.

Referees should reprimand coaches like porcupines make love -- very, very carefully. Because if the rule Hughes cites is enforced frequently, I fear a severe backlash from the bench. And rightly so. Athletic directors, not officials, should be primarily responsible for managing and policing their staff's conduct.

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